Valentine: 'I'm not doing a good job'

Aug. 18, 2012

Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine watches batting practice before Saturday's game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. He criticized his own performance in speaking with reporters before the game. / AP Photo/John Dunn

Written by

Ronald Blum

Associated Press

NEW YORK — With the Red Sox far from first place and their chances of reaching the playoffs slim, Bobby Valentine says he is disappointed with his performance.

Hired as manager last fall when Terry Francona left after a 7-20 fade, Valentine’s team entered Saturday 13˝ games behind the AL East-leading Yankees and 6˝ games out in the wild-card race.

“I’m not doing a good job. I didn’t get paid to do anything other than get to the playoffs, win a lot of games, be in the thick in things right down to the end, even be in first place,” Valentine said. “The team I’m managing is not there. Simple. So my job has not been a good job, if I had to assess.”

Boston hasn’t been above third place all season. Twenty-six players have gone on the disabled list, the most for any team since at least 1987, according to STATS LLC.

Valentine, who has a contract running through next season, said it’s hard to tell whether the repeated turmoil caused by losing is weighing on the team.

“It’s my first year. Everyone tells me it’s standard operational procedure. Life in the big city or the — it’s not the big city — ”

“Province?” a reporter suggested.

“Provincial town,” Valentine said.

Asked how he keeps players’ spirits up, Valentine responded: “Tell a few jokes. We made sure that the eggs were served properly this morning in the breakfast room.”

“These guys are pro guys. They’re supposed to be down. When you lose, you’re not supposed to be happy,” he said. “I don’t want anybody to think it’s a good thing.”

NOTES: INF Mauro Gomez was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket and LHP Felix Doubront was placed on the 15-day DL with a bruised right knee. The Doubront move was retroactive to Aug. 10, and the Red Sox expect he will rejoin the rotation as soon as he’s eligible to come off the DL. … Gomez was 9 for 30 with three doubles and three RBIs during a pair of callups this season. … Valentine says he uses Cody Ross at DH to ease wear and tear of his legs. “He’s had some really good games and then he’s had games where it looks like at the end of the game he not quite into it as much. I think yesterday had a little something to do with fouling the ball off his shin. It got a little stiff at the end.”